Kitty's Class Day and Other Stories

nvulsions, nor that wide-spread malady, croquet. Neither was it one of the new dances which, like a tarantula-bite, set every one a twirling, nor stage madness, nor yet that Am

oning. They covered canvas with the expedition of scene-painters, had classes, lectures, receptions, and exhibitions, made models of each other, and rendered their walls hideous with bad likenesses of all their friends. Their conversation ceased to be intelligible to the uninitiated, and they prattled prettily of "chiaro oscuro, French sauce, refraction of the angle of the eye, seventh spinus process, depth and juiciness of color, tender touch, and a

delicately begrimed with crayon, chalk, and clay, gliding through the corridors hitherto haunted only by shabby paletots, shadowy hats, and cigar smoke. This irruption was borne with manly fortitude, not to say cheerfulness, for studio doors stood hospitably open

. There were peepings and whisperings, much stifled laughter and whisking in and out; not to mention the accid

ed "Raphael's Rooms," and devoted their shining hours to modelling fancy heads, gossiping the while

l it at once, for we are stupid as owls here to-day," cried one of t

, and a man picked it u

ng on her gray

been blushing, and you look brisker than usual this morning," sa

ed, and my papers went flying all about the landing. Of course we both laughed and begged pardon, and I began to pick them up, but he wouldn't let me; s

d you are a regular genius, as we all

a little bunch of violets I had dropped; you know I always wear a posy into town to give me inspiration. I didn't care for the dusty flowers, and told him so, and hurried away bef

, with straw-colored tresses, and a good deal of weedy shrubbery in her

r head, as if half sorry sh

sked Miss Larkins, t

particular

n, whom we call Titian: h

own and curly," cried Psyche, i

aby when its cap was

to drop the last tw

ir Cutter, for the girls had a name for all the at

and very fine ones th

to herself, "he look

have looked

ike the great Mike?" ask

fine view. He isn't handsome, but he'll do something," said Psyche, prophetically, as she

earance. We'll call him Michael Angelo, and he shall be your idol. I prefer stout old Rembrandt myself, and Larkie a

o had his inevitable umbrella, like a true Englishman. Just as I came up, the umbrella fell right before me. I started back; Sir Joshua l

eech, or the look?" asked Ps

a glance, a tint, a curve, with exquisite delight. Rubens is adorable (as a study); that lustrous eye, that night of h

e thing by any means.

a despondent air at t

ghty, the brow classically smooth and low, and the breezy hair well done. But something was wanting; Psyche felt that, and could have t

Theodore Smythe. He says so himself, and assures me it will make a sensation when we exhibit

t does not?" asked Miss

myself into the arms of Nature, since Art rejects me;" replied Miss Larkins, with a tragic

he is to receive all Art's rejecte

ing went well, for certain neglected home-duties had dogged her into town, and now worried her more than dust, or heat, or the ceaseless clatter of tongues. Tom, Dick, and Harry's unmended hose persisted i

in. Where is Giovanni?" she asked, throwing down he

self," answered Miss Dickenson, who was tenderly winding a wet bandage round her Juno's face, one side of which was so much

ill do me good; so will a breath of air and

ndows, Psyche watched the feathery tree-tops ruffled by the balmy wind, that brought spring odors from the hills, lying green and sunny far away. Silence and solitude were such pleasant companions that the girl forgot herself, till

and look; it is grea

ning with an ai

roes. She soon ceased to wonder what it was, feeling only the indescribable charm of something higher than beauty. Small as her knowledge was, she could see and enjoy the power visible in every part of it; the accurate anatomy of the vigorous limbs, the grace of the pose, the strength and spirit in the counte

ust stood and looked. Her eyes kindled, her color rose, despondency and discontent vanished, and her soul was in her face

he exclaimed impetuously, as a feeling of despair c

ked, still looking up at the g

l Ga

in the doorway, attentively observing her. Being too full of artless admiration to think of her

piece of work, and I envy

affectation about either. He gave her a keen, kind glance out of the "fine gray eyes," a little

th increased admiration in her face, and earnes

succeeded, for you have given that figure the power and path

his work was a very eloquent one, for it betrayed that he had pa

e man's manner to disturb her self-forgetful mood, but much to foster it, because to the soli

ination with the best food one can get," he answered sl

t I don't know where to find the food you speak of?

needs different fare, and each mu

as the lines in his forehead, and a few gray hair

f seeing it in all things, and the art of reproducing it with truth. I have tried very ha

ning a little with sudden shamefacedness she saw, lying on the table besi

dreamed that l

found that l

am then a s

d heart, co

all find th

ight and tr

they came home to her with sudden force, and, seeing that h

good way to feed heart,

of what was going on in her mi

n work well. Moulding character is the highest sort of sculpture,

ss of water, and Giovanni staring at her with round eyes, suddenly recalled Psyche to a sense of the proprieties which she had been innocently outraging for the

you had forgotten," said Miss

not forget," returned Psyche,

empt for the whole thing, she suddenly tilted her cherished Venus on to the floor, gave the classical f

ome any more, for I'm going